Europeans on EU: ‘Intrusive and out-of-touch, but good for peace’

A majority of European citizens gives good marks to the EU for promoting peace, democracy and prosperity

But they blast the bloc for being out of touch with their needs, according to the research by the US-based Pew Research Center.

A median total of 62% of respondents from 10 European Union member states — France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden and the UK — have a favourable opinion of the bloc, the poll revealed.

The
view is held even in Hungary and Poland where the ruling political
parties — Fidesz and Law Justice party respectively — have repeatedly
clashed with the EU in recent months.

Only Greek respondents had
an overwhelmingly unfavourable view (62%) of the EU, while in the UK —
currently negotiating its exit from the bloc — people were more or less
evenly split: 48% think positively about the EU and 45% negatively.

Most also say they believe the bloc promotes peace (74%), democratic values (64%), and prosperity (55%).

However, with just two months to
go until elections, opinion dips over the European Parliament. Only 50%
of respondents hold a favourable view of the institution.

Perhaps
more problematic for the EU, a majority of Europeans describe the bloc
as intrusive and inefficient with 62% criticising it for not
understanding the needs of its citizens.

Among the chief concerns are the economy, Brexit and immigration, with the EU scoring pretty badly on all three.

Just
40% of Europeans approve of how the bloc is dealing with economic
issues — only in Poland, Germany and the Netherlands, did a majority of
people think differently. Furthermore, a median 58% of people polled are
pessimistic about the next generation’s financial future, believing
that when children in their country grow up, they will be worse off.

Germany
and the Netherlands were also the only ones to have a majority of
respondents who think the bloc is handling Brexit well. Overall only 38%
across the ten countries thought the same.

As for refugee
policies, less than a quarter of Europeans polled thought Brussels is
dealing with the issue well. In Greece, which was one of the main
gateways into Europe, only 7% of respondents thought this.

Although
a slim majority (53%) think immigrants make their country stronger,
anti-immigration sentiment is high with 51% affirming their country
should allow fewer immigrants to settle. But 57% also said they believe
immigrants increase the risk of terrorism.